"Mousepelt... Mousepelt!" the brown warrior woke up to see Ravenclaw looking down at her worryingly. "Are you alright? You were thrashing in your sleep."

Mousepelt couldn't get the warning from Silversol out of her head. Limptail and Viperfang were gone. Only Crazyfeather laid in the den snoring like thunder in the middle of the den. She got to her paws and stretched, hoping to rid the thought of kits getting hurt so soon after birth.

"I'm fine," Mousepelt lied, "just... Ate a bad frog I guess..."

Ravenclaw looked at the she-cat with uncertain and worried eyes, but then shrugged. "Stoneheart wants us, Silvertongue, and Ashpaw on sun high patrol, and after that I thought we'd take the walk we promised before I was taken."

"You remembered!" Mousepelt's tail shot up happily.

"Of course I did," Ravenclaw purred, "how could I forget something so important?" The two made their way out the warrior's den. Moonpaw and Ashpaw ran over excitingly.

"Mousepelt!" Moonpaw mewed happily. "Blackclaw and Silvertongue are going to give us our assessment after Ashpaw returns from patrol!"

"Really?" Mousepelt meowed excitingly. The day may prove to be pleasant.

"I'm going to catch so much prey that Jumbledstar will probably forget about Stoneheart and make me deputy!"Aspaw meowed proudly.

"You need to have an apprentice first young warrior," Ravenclaw purred, "it gives you more more experience as a warrior, the deputy is next to be leader, so you'll have to take steps to learn how to care for a whole Clan."

"That sounds like too much work!" Moonpaw cringed.

"It is." Ravenclaw agreed.

"Then how did Snaketooth get that title?" Ashpaw bristled. It was obvious the young apprentice still hadn't forgiven his father.

"Believe me," Ravenclaw placed his tail-tip on Ashpaw's shoulder, "Snaketooth was once a very well respected warrior and had all the qualities to be deputy."

The ginger tabby was lying outside the elder's den with Pinepelt and Spottedfur sharing tongues. He looked pathetic as he looked to Turtlefur, who was taking a startling to the nursery. His mate wasn't going to forgive him easily.

"Ravenclaw, Mousepelt, Ashpaw!" Stoneheart called with Silvertongue waiting close by. "Are you ready?"

"Do you need to eat?" Ravenclaw asked Mousepelt. She shook her head and made her way to Silvertongue.

"I smell fox," Ashpaw announced. Mousepelt opened her mouth and realized the tom was right. The scent of fresh fox hung in the air and the back of Mousepelt's neck rose. Ravenclaw and Silvertongue finished making the border and went to sniff the air with them.

"It smells closer to RiverClan territory," Silvertongue observed.

"Yes, but it smells as if it's on the move," Ravenclaw pointed out.

"Should we report this to Jumbledstar or Stoneheart?" Mousepelt asked.

"Let's not bring it to their attention until we're absolutely sure there's a fox here." Silvertongue answered.

"What about a fox?" The ShadowClan cats looked to see Mudpelt, Fishstench, Bluepaw, and Minnowtail come from their territory. It appeared to be a border patrol.

"We smell fox between our borders," Ravenclaw answered the muddy tortoise shell tom, "have you seen any fox around RiverClan?"

"I saw one, but it was too far to get my attention," Bluepaw admitted, "it was somewhere past the river and too far past RiverClan territory."

"You still should have reported it," Fishstench told his apprentice.

"Either way," Mudpelt flicked his tail, "fox or no fox, there have been no signs of it coming in to our territories."

"If they smell us they could come and try getting the queens and kits." Ravenclaw pointed out. "You should act on this if it starts eating your prey."

Minnowtail looked at the black warrior suspiciously. Mousepelt couldn't believe it, this black and grey warrior was going to suspect ShadowClan of stealing RiverClan prey. Mousepelt resisted the urge to unsheathe her claws and attack.

"If it enters RiverClan, RiverClan will handle it," Mudpelt spoke, interrupting Mousepelt's anger, "but if it enters ShadowClan, it's your problem." With the flick of his muddy tail, Mudpelt and his Clanmates pelted off to their camp.

"They sting me," Ashpaw growled.

Mousepelt ran off to hide behind a tree as she heard Ravenclaw's paws hit the ground. When he went pass the tree, Mousepelt pounced on him, sending them tumbling down the moor. They mrrowed with laughter as they play fought. Mousepelt then pushed off and went deeper in to the forest until she came to a Thunderpath. Monsters roared by, making Mousepelt's ears hurt.

Ravenclaw bolted out from the bramble next to her. "Those Twolegs are too noisy with monsters!"  the warrior complained. "It gets worse when new-leaf and green-leaf come!" 

"What are you two doing?" Mousepelt and Ravenclaw turned to see Quakefoot, Trampleheart, and Morningflower come out from the bramble, covered with snow and burr.

"Look at yourselves," Mousepelt trotted up to the young warriors, "you've gotten all filthy! What would Silvertongue say if she saw you?" Mousepelt began picking off the burr and using her tail to dust off the snow.

"We can clean ourselves!" Trampleheart fretted, his fur burning hot with embarrassment.

"I want Mousepelt to clean us!" Morningflower flicked her tail at her brother. "I feel like a kit again!"

"And you were an adorable kit too," Mousepelt purred getting the last of the snow off of Quakefoot's flank.

"You know Mousepelt," Quakefoot mewed, "when you reminisce like that you sound old."

"Oh, well excuse me!" Mousepelt mrrowed with laughter. A monster then zipped by making the younger warriors jump.

"Hey, Trampleheart," Quakefoot turned to his brother, "I'll give you all my fresh-kill for a moon if you can make it across this Thunderpath!"

"That's ludicrous!" Morningflower bristled.

"I told you to stop using words I don't know the meaning of!" Quakefoot shot.

"If I did that, we'd both starve," Trampleheart sat down, "Silvertongue would claw our ears off and keep us both from eating!"

"What are you a mouse?" Quakefoot twitched his whiskers. "Afraid mum will have you for crow food?"

"I'm not scared-" Trampleheart hissed.

"Then prove it!" Quakefoot challenged.

"No one has to prove anything," Ravenclaw growled, "none of you are crossing this Thunderpath!"

"Then why does Morningflower get to?" Trampleheart asked.

"She doesn't," Ravenclaw answered.

"Well she's gonna," Quakefoot swished his tail.

"No she's not," Ravenclaw replied.

"She's doing it," both Quakefoot and Trampleheart looked over at the Thunderpath. Mousepelt and Ravenclaw quickly spun to see the golden she-cat was half way across the hard black ground. Luckily, no monsrers were coming.

"Morningflower, you get back here this instant!" Mousepelt yowled. The she-cat didn't listen. She continued running, until she reached the other side of the path, just as a monster passed by.

"There you did it," Ravenclaw growled, "now get back here!"

Without looking, Morningflower bolted back across the Thunderpath. The monster from before was coming back. Mousepelt judged who was going to make it first.

"Morningflower!" Mousepelt shrieked. The golden she-cat saw the monster and, with a frightened yowl, sprinted for safety, but the monster was right behind her and the she-cat let out a painful cry.

"Morningflower!" Trampleheart and Quakefoot bolted over to their sister and dragged her off the Thunderpath as quick as they could.

"My tail!" Morningflower wailed. "It hit my tail! It hurts! It hurts! My tail is gone! It's gone!" 

"It's not gone!" Quakefoot snapped.

"It's bleeding pretty badly and it looks pretty bad, though," Trampleheart mewed, "We should get you to Coldeyes."

"Hopefully this will be a lesson to all three of you!" Ravenclaw flicked his tail. Trampleheart and Quakefoot helped their sister up and began heading to camp.

"Well, it's definitely broken," Coldeyes diagnosed, looking over Morningflower's injured tail. "What in StarClan's name were you thinking?" 

"Quakefoot dared Trampleheart to do it, but he wouldn't do it," Morningflower answered, "so I thought I could do it."

"That is the most mouse-brained excuse I've ever heard!" Silvertongue scolded. "What if that monster had killed you?"

"I'm sorry, Silvertongue..." Morningflower lowered her head shamefully.

"You may go now, Mousepelt," Coldeyes nodded to the brown she-cat. She got up and headed out the medicine den, she had helped Coldeyes patch up Morningflower's wounded tail. Having to heal the entire Clan alone without Frogstump was probably taking it out of the poor medicine cat. He was going to have to take an apprentice sooner or later.

Ravenclaw was waiting with a rabbit in his jaws. Mousepelt went and laid down next to him, sharing it with him. While they ate, Ashpaw and Moonpaw trotted in to camp proudly with so much prey, they had to carry some on their backs. The whole Clan quickly ran over and began praising the apprentices. Silvertongue poked her head out through the medicine den. She quickly ran over and saw all the prey her apprentice caught.

"They were incredible!" Stoneheart praised. "Moonpaw chased a squirrel on to the ice that's covered the lake and Ashpaw appeared. Their teamwork was amazing, not only did Ashpaw help save Moonpaw, but they chased the squirrel to a whole nest of them!"

"Well done!" Brokenjaw meowed excitingly.

"Like real warriors!" Ravenclaw exclaimed.

"We must share this with Jumbledstar!" Stoneheart told Blackclaw. The two ran to the leader's den, but stopped at the sound of a shriek. Morningflower and Coldeyes were outside the medicine den as a fox pounced in to camp. Coldeyes shoved Morningflower off to somewhere safe.

Jumbledstar appeared from his den and he bounded to the dark ginger creature. The grey leader bit down on it's leg, but it shook him off and pinned him down.

"Jumbledstar!" Vinekit wailed to her father. Yellowstone dragged her kits back inside the nursery and bolted over to her mate, pouncing at the foxes muzzled and scratching furiously.

"I'm not watching these kits be apprentices without him!" Yellowstone yowled at the fox. It let out a snarl and snapped at the sandy she-cat.

"Yellowstone!" Jumbledstar pounced on top the foxes head. "Get back to the nursery! Goldenpelt can't raise them along with her's!"

"If you lose this life, I'll rip all the rest out of you!" Yellowstone threatened.

"Enough of your fighting!" Ravenclaw demanded bounding over with Stoneheart, Blackclaw, and Frightwing. "Get back to the nursery Yellowstone!"

"We won't let Jumbledstar lose a life!" Stoneheart assured.

That's when the fox flipped Jumbledstar in the air and clamped it's jaws down on him. Blood splattered the ground and Jumbledstar let out a gasp.

"No!" Yellowstone shrieked.

"Come on Yellowstone!" Viperfang lead the wailing queen to the nursery.

"Let him go!" Ashpaw demanded flinging dirt at the foxes eye, making it drop Jumbledstar to the ground and turn it's attention to Ashpaw and Moonpaw. "Come on fox-heart, this way!" Ashpaw spun around and both he and Moonpaw bolted out the camp.

"Wait!" Turtlefur pleaded running after her kits with Snaketooth. Smoothpelt followed after and Mousepelt pelted after them while the rest took Jumbledstar to Coldeyes.

Ashpaw spun around and faced the fox. "Moonpaw, go find a fox trap, let me know when you find one!" Moonpaw nodded and pounded through the forest. "Bring it on crow food!" Ashpaw jumped on the foxes face and Bagan scratching at it's face. Smoothpelt joined him while Turtlefur and Snaketooth followed after Moonpaw. Mousepelt pounced on the foxes flank as it fought the toms on it.

Suddenly, Ashpaw let out a painful cry. Mousepelt looked up to see Ashpaw's muzzle had a deep gash and blood poured down his nose to his jaw. Moonpaw then let out her signal that she had found the fox trap. Shakily, Ashpaw bolted toward his sister's call. The fox followed after along with Smoothpelt and Mousepelt. When they were about to lose sight of the fox, a loud snap was heard with a cut short whimper.

Mousepelt and Smoothpelt ran in to a clearing to see Moonpaw and Ashpaw standing on top the dead fox, the string around its neck. The moon was beginning to rise and its rays shined through through the trees that shined down on both the siblings. Ashpaw's bloody scar glistened with his grey pelt. He almost looked like a StarClan warrior who gave his life for his Clan. Smoothpelt's eyes were on Moonpaw. Her shared mother's tortoises shell fur glistened along with her beautiful amber eyes. Her beauty made Mousepelt almost envious, but she was also enthralled in the she-cats beauty.

"Oh, my kits are heroes!" Turtlefur cheered, choking as she looked up at her kits. Snaketooth purred as he looked up, pride shining in his eyes.

"Moonpaw," Smoothpelt breathed, "you look... Beautiful..."

Moonpaw lowered her head and her face was full of embarrassment. Ashpaw rolled his eyes as he jumped down from the fox and dizzily headed back to camp with the help of Snaketooth and Turtlefur. Moonpaw walked close to Smoothpelt as they headed after them. Mousepelt purred and went after her Clanmates.

When the sun rose the next day, Coldeyes came out and stretched out until he shook. Mousepelt threw her vole on the fresh-kill pile as Snaketooth came out the elder's den and made his way to the medicine den. Moonpaw came out the apprentice's den, followed by Turtlefur.

Mousepelt let out a soft purr. Ashpaw had been receiving visits last night and since the midnight patrol. Jumbledstar had lost a life and Ashpaw was too injured to retrieve his warrior name.

It was sun high now, but it was too cloudy and cold to stay outside the dens. Ravenclaw came out the warrior's den with a yawn. He trotted over to Mousepelt's side and licked her cheek. The black tom had gone on the midnight patrol and slept soundly when Mousepelt went on the sun high patrol with Limptail, Viperfang, and Trampleheart.

Coldeyes stepped out Jumbledstar's den, followed by the grey leader, who jumped up on to the hazel branch. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Hazel Branch!" Warriors stepped out the warrior's den. Goldenpelt came out the nursery with Yellowstone's kits. The sandy she-cat came out the leader's den and went to go sit with her kits. Moonpaw and Ashpaw proudly stepped out, followed by Turtlefur and Snaketooth.

"I, Jumbledstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn." Ashpaw and Moonpaw shared an excited look as Jumbledstar went on with the ceremony, "Moonpaw and Ashpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"we do!" both siblings answered, wrapping their tails together.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names." Jumbledstar jumped down from the branch and walked up to Ashpaw, "Ashpaw, from this moment you will be known as Ashface. StarClan honors your many strength and teamwork, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." Jumbledstar rested his muzzle on Ashface's head and the newly scarred warrior licked his leader's shoulder.

Jumbledstar then went to Moonpaw. "Moonpaw, from this moment you will be known as Moonglow. StarClan honors your beauty and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." the grey leader rested his muzzle on the she-cat's head. She licked his shoulder.

When Jumbledstar stepped back the Clan exploded in cheers. "Ashface! Moonglow! Ashface! Moonglow!"